Electrode assembly for nerve control

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, that is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. At least one electrode is fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve, and such that the electrode surrounds greater than 180 degrees of a circumference of the nerve after the placement of the housing. Two end insulating elements are fixed to the housing. The at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements. A characteristic closest end insulating element distance to a surface of the nerve is less than 0.5 mm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of: [0002] (a) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 022,011 to Cohen et al., filed Dec. 22, 2004, entitled, “Construction of electrode assembly for nerve control”; and [0003] (b) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 529,149 to Betser et al., filed Mar. 23, 2005, in the national stage of PCT Patent Application PCT / IL03 / 00430, filed May 23, 2003, entitled, “Electrode assembly for nerve control,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 205,474 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,295), filed Jul. 24, 2002, entitled, “Electrode assembly for nerve control,” which (i) claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 383,157 to Ayal et al., filed May 23, 2002, entitled, “Inverse recruitment for autonomic nerve systems,” and (ii) is a continuation-in-part of PCT Patent Application PCT / IL02 / 00068, filed Jan. 23, 2002, entitled, “Treatment of disorders by unidi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0057] For most applications, the secondary anodal current is of lower magnitude than the primary anodal current. In this manner, the “virtual cathode” effect induced by the primary anodal current is minimized. As described in the Background section of the present patent application, the virtual cathode effect can stimulate—rather than block—the generation of action potentials in fibers in a region adjacent to the application of anodal current of a sufficiently high magnitude. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, application of the primary and secondary anodal currents in appropriate ratios is configured to generally minimize the virtual cathode effect. Typically, but not necessarily, the ratio of the primary to the secondary anodal current ranges from 5:1 to 10:1.

[0158] In an embodiment, the first edge includes a flap, adapted to come in contact with a portion of the cuff in the vicinity of the second edge when the first and second edges are held together. For some applications, when no external force is applied to the cuff, the flap forms an angle of between about 90 and about 180 degrees with a surface of the cuff in the vicinity of the first edge. For some applications, the flap includes a tab, configured to help draw the protrusion through the hole when the tab is moved toward the protrusion.

Problems solved by technology

This unnatural recruitment order causes muscle fatigue and poor force gradation.

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